Tasnim � Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardekanian said Washington�s upcoming sanctions against Tehran have nothing to do with the Islamic Republic�s electricity supply to neighboring countries.

Iran is seeking to develop electricity exchanges with neighboring countries, Ardakanian told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session in Tehran on Wednesday.

�Last week, a meeting was held at the level of deputy energy ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran in Moscow to synchronize the electricity systems of the three countries, which had good results,� he said.

�Electricity exports will remain unchanged, as agreed with neighboring countries, and the issue is not related to possible (US) sanctions,� the minister said, adding that the next meeting will be held in December in Tehran to decide on details of the work.

Ardakanian also said Iran plans to export electricity to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq in the future.

The energy minister, in a press conference in Tehran back in February, highlighted the country�s self-sufficiency in the area of power generation and said the Islamic Republic is the top producer of electricity in the Middle East.

About 90 percent of power generation equipment, even complicated parts like turbines and generators, are currently manufactured inside the country, he said at the time.

He added that Iran�s capabilities in the area of power generation have developed over the past four decades so much that the country has become the top producer of electricity in the region.